When disaster strikes, Harvey Lorenz is ready to take the call. The American Red Cross Northeast Wisconsin Chapter volunteer and Neenah, Wis., resident will deploy to Tallahassee, Fla. on June 29 to serve as a Financial and Statistical Supervisor for flooding cleanup efforts following Tropical Depression Debby.

This will be the eighth service deployment for Lorenz, who most recently traveled to Pennsylvania in September 2011 to assist with the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

For Lorenz, it is the pull of service and the quality of the organization that keeps him coming back. He wants to put his years of expertise in the financial industry to a good use.

“I like working with numbers, which is not a gift for everyone,” Lorenz said. “I feel like I can use my expertise here.”

“The Red Cross is fabulous,” he added. “It’s a great group to be a team member of.”

Harvey fills out paperwork in preparation for his deployment to Florida.

It is this group he will join to assist those suffering from the effects of Debby.“We do what we can to lighten their load and make their lives less traumatic,” he said.

The American Red Cross is providing critical help to thousands of people affected by massive flooding in Florida from Tropical Depression Debby.

Nearly 200 Red Cross disaster workers are helping in Florida, where 11 shelters were open overnight. Tropical Depression Debby has dumped as much as ten inches of rain on most of the state, with some areas getting up to 25 inches of rain. Truckloads of additional relief supplies are on the way to Florida and 20 response vehicles are ready to start distributing items to help as the cleanup begins there.

“Thousands have been impacted by these disasters and the Red Cross is giving them a safe place to stay, food to eat and a shoulder to lean on,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president, Red Cross Disaster Services. “We are expanding our efforts to help the growing number of people affected by the fires in the west and are ready to distribute the tools and other resources people will need to begin the cleanup in Florida as the flood waters recede.”

HOW PEOPLE CAN HELP Those who want to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. People can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to local American Red Cross chapters or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243,Washington, DC 20013.

REGISTER ON SAFE AND WELL The Red Cross Safe and Well website is also available. People affected by the fires and flooding can access the site and let loved ones know where they are. There are several ways to register on Safe and Well, or search for a loved one. From a computer, visit redcross.org from a smart phone, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to be connected with one’s local Red Cross chapter.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.